The following is the Regiment’s own account of the Battle of
Frezenburg. There had been some doubts about how the territorial
regiments would stand up, and one can see the pride of the
writer here that other, more illustrious regiments had broken,
but not the Leicesters. "A" Squadron were, at one point, doing
the work of a Brigade, which would have about ten times the
number of men in it. Their pride was justified.

All spelling and punctuation is as in the original.

Total Number: 15 Officers & 267 NCO's and men
went into battle on the 12th May 1915.

RECORDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY

on the nights of
May 12th and 13th. 1915,

When they held the
trenches to the East of Ypres against the attack of the
Germans.

At 5pm on May 12th
when in huts 1 mile wst of Ypres on the Brailen Road and
one mile East of that Village, an order came to march
for the trenches at 7.15. All respirators were inspected
and doped, and the Regiment, consisting of 281 all ranks
moved off from the huts at 7.30 in Brigade with 1st
and 2nd Life Guards, the Leicesters being the
leading Regiment.

The route taken was
East along the VLAMERTINGE-YPRES Road through the town
of YPRES. The town was being shelled by Germans during
our march through and was practically all on fire.

The Brigade left
YPRES by the ZONNIBEKE Road and passed through the
village of POTIJZE, and about ½ a mile further East
halted for half an hour near white Chateau, on left of
road West of General Head Quarter Line and West of where
brook crosses Road.

At 11pm we marched
off to take up our position in trenches previously
occupied by the 5th Battalion Royal Fusiliers
and situated about 700 yds West of the Road joining the
Zonnebeke Road and the YPRES MENIN Rd (squares 5 & 6,
sheet 28 Squared BELGIUM map) with the extreme Right of
Regiment resting on Railway running North East from
Ypres and extending to farm house about 300 yds North
North West of Railway including trench in front of Farm
House.

The map above is accurate.

B squadron occupied
North portion of trench C squadron the South portion of trench.

The trenches were
bad, about 5feet deep and 2 ½ feet wide at bottom, the
parapet in front and behind trenches slanted very much
and was made of loose soil, very few sand bags being
used. There were no dugouts of funk holes (the friable
nature of soil would not allow of their being made) so
there was practically no protection from shell fire.

The support trenches
occupied by A squadron were situated about 300 yds to
the front of advance trenches and on the extreme flank
of B squadron.

The M.O. and R.A.M.C
were 1st in support trenches but were
subsequently (2 am) ordered by C.O. to make Regimental
Aid Post in Farm situated 200 yds South of Railway.
Crossing on left side of Toad in square 11 opposite
wood. This Farm was found to be occupied by 6. Cav.
Field Amb. as their advanced dressing station.

The 7th
Cav. Field Ambulance had its advanced dressing station
at White Chateau on the YPRES. ZONNEBEKE Rd. ½ mile East
of POTIJZE Village.

The Hd. Qrs. were in
dugout on Rd. joining ZONNERBEKE and MENNIN Rd. about
150 yds North of Railway crossing.

All troops got
settled down in their trenches about 1 am some
difficulty being experienced in finding best positions
for machine gun and it was ultimately placed in C
squadron trenches close to Rly.

At 1.30 spades and picks were
obtained and the men improved the condition of their
trenches during the night.

There were no trench
bombs or mortars or hand grenades issued to the
Regiment.

The 3rd
Dragoon Guards occupied trenches on immediate South of
the Railway, and the 1st Life Guards the
trenches immediately North of B squadron.

Between 3.30 and 4 am
the Germans commenced a very heavy shell fire - shrapnel
and high explosives - on both the advanced and support
trenches which practically continued without
intermission till 6 am when there appeared to be a lull.
The casualties during that time were not very heavy, and
were attended to by the stretcher bearers who had
accompanied each squadron with their stretchers into the
trenches, Pte Townsend did excellent work in this
respect in support trenches.

At about 6.15 there
was signs of a German assault and some Germans left
their trenches when a heavy rifle fire from our advanced
trenches caused the Germans to retire precipitously to
their trenches and open again a heavy shell fire upon
our trenches, but principally confined this time to the
advanced trenches, and they continued shelling till
7.30.

During this shelling
there were many casualties, principally in the advanced
trenches and the trenches themselves were blown flat,
especially that in front of the Farm on the extreme Left
of B trenches and the Germans seemed to be getting into
trenches which had been occupied by the 2nd
Life Guards and evacuated by them before 6 am and coming
along there trenches towards B squadron trenches.

The B squadron
gradually retired South along their trenches, some
leaving trenches and retiring to support trenches.

The Germans continued
their advance along B squadron trenches and leaving
trenches advanced West under cover of hedge, until they
came to within 200 yds of the support trenches and here
dug themselves in a ditch which ran parallel with
support trenches and it was noticed that the Germans
used steel shields to protect their advance. Here they
remained till the counter attack in the afternoon.

More Germans
continued to advance along B squadron trenches and also
made frontal attack under cover of their snipers, and
B
squadron retired on C. When they came to the left of
C
squadron they found Major Martin in Command, and he
rallied the B and ordered barricades to be built across
the trenches and he himself and SGT. MAJ. Swain defended
these barricades by rifle fire. Major Leibert who
commanded the B squadron was killed about now.

Major Martin was
perfectly cool and collected, cheering his men by his
undaunted courage and example got his men to make a
great stand against large odds. This stand continued
some time, the rifle fire of the Germans being very
heavy, especially by snipers from front and flank Major
Martin and Sgt. Major Swain and others standing behind a
traverse and shooting Germans coming along trenches,
whilst Lieut. Brooks and others protected their front
from the German advance.

This check to the
Germans continued for some time, and casualties from
rifle fire were very heavy, among them were Lieut.
Brooks, shot through the head until Major Martin was
killed whilst making an observation of the advancing
Germans support with his glasses.

He was shot through
the upper part of face by a near range bullet and killed
immediately.

Lieut. Johnson and
Sgt. Major Swain and 14 men (all that now remained in
the advance trenches) retired fighting along trenches to
the Railway passing on their way the remains of the
Machine Gun which seemed to have been knocked out by
shell fire.

At the Railway Lieut.
Johnson had a pit dug for cover as they dare not cross
the Railway as it was reported to machine fun fire by
the Germans.

Lieut. Johnson and
Sgt. Major Swain got into communication with the 3rd
Dragoon Guards, five men of whom attempted to cross the
Railway to assist the Leicester Yeomanry two of the
Dragoon Guards were killed in the attempt.

An attempt was then
made to build a barricade across the Railway from both
sides in order for the Leicesters to effect junction
with the 3rd Dragoon Guards. This was done
leaving only a short space in the centre of the Railway
exposed to Machine gun fire, and Lieut. Johnson, Sgt
Major Swain and 14 men of the Leicesters with the 3
surviving Dragoon Guards rushed across behind this
barricade singly and at intervals, and suffered only 2
slightly wounded in the passage.

These men were now in
the trenches occupied by the 3rd Dragoon
Guards and here they found Capt. Hanbury unwounded and
under him started to make a barricade parallel with the
Railway to prevent the 3rd Dragoon Guards
trenches being enfiladed by Germans on Left. Capt.
Hanbury was wounded whilst in these trenches. They
remained here till 8 pm when they retired with the
general retirement of 3rd Dragoon Guards.

The
A Squadron[Sleath’s squadron] under
Capt. Codrington and Lieut. Simpkin were in the
support trenches which were bad and similar to the
advanced trenches, if anything, worse.

These trenches were
shelled very heavily from 3.30 and about 5.30 a
retirement towards the road West of trenches had
commenced, before this retirement reached the road, it
was met by Col. Freke, Major Ricardo and Capt. Martin
(acting adjutant) coming out of their dug out in road.

Col. Freke then
ordered them to return to the support trenches which was
done at the double. Major Ricardo 2nd in
command returning in charge of A squadron, Capt.
Codrington having been badly wounded during retirement,
and had to be removed on stretcher to the Regimental Aid
Post.

Col. Freke then took
Lieut Simpkin, Sgt. Bailey and 15 men, and led them up
an avenue of trees situated about 100 yds South of
support trenches and running in Eastern direction from
Road to a small house about 150 yds in advance of
support trenches, and 100 yds South East. Here Col.
Freke placed Lieut Simpkin, Sgt. Bailey and 15 men, and
instructed them to hold on at all costs, as the Germans
were threatening a flanking movement on his advanced
trenches through the 1st Life Guard trenches.

Capt. Martin who
accompanied the Col. was wounded here and had to retire.

Col. Freke then went
forward to advance trenches, sending back to trenches 1
troop of B who were leaving trenches, and he went along
the whole front trenches encouraging his officers and
men to stick it, though the shell fire was very heavy.
Whilst retiring from advanced trenches he saw a wounded
man, Private Fewkes dragged him to a shell hole under
cover, took his own coat off, wrapped it round the
wounded man and left him.

The Col. then returned to
Lieut. Simpkin, pointed out the importance of
his position and then went back towards the road
and crossed over to get to the support trenches,
he was struck first by shrapnel in the arm but
continued his way, and when within three yards
of support trenches, was hit by a bullet which
penetrated his breast, and he was killed
instantly, his servant John Swain rushed out to
his aid and he was wounded with a bullet.

During the time the
Col. was visiting the advanced trenches, Lieut. Best,
R.S.M. Parker and the remainder of the Hd. Qr. Staff
left Hd. Qrs. dug out and went into the support trenches
and remained with A squadron till the end of the action.

R.S.M. Parker was
killed by a bullet wound in head at 6.30.

Major Ricardo was
wounded in left arm by G.S. and later had a finger
injured and was also wounded in head by shrapnel and
rendered unconscious for some time. As soon as he
regained consciousness he resumed command, crawling
about trenches cheering and encouraging his men.

At about 7.30 the
Germans were seen advancing from our trenches on the
left flank taking cover down the side of hedge leading
South West from Farm situated on left flank of B
Squadron trenches. This hedge continued about 200 yds.
South West of advanced trenches and terminated in a
ditch which ran at right angles to it. In this ditch the
Germans took cover and started to dig themselves in,
they had spades and shields.

The German shelling
had now ceased, though the German’s snipers killed
anyone who exposed themselves.

The German advance
never reached any further than this point and many
Germans were killed by our rifle fire before they made
good this position.

At about 8 pm Lieut.
J. Grenfell, Royal Dragoon Guards brought message to
Major Ricardo from General Campbell C.O. 6th
Brigade saying A squad was the only squadron holding the
section of trench originally occupied by 7th
Brigade, and asking him to hold on at all costs,
otherwise General Campbell’s left flank would be
completely exposed and that 6th Brigade was
intact. Major Ricardo said that he would hold onto his
position, but pointed out the necessity of
reinforcements owing to heavy casualties from rifle fire
and also many of his rifles jamming, and doubtless this
message must have got through, and the counter attack of
Bulkey’s Brigade was the result.

At 12 noon Capt.
Tolemache the Brigade Major joined A squadron and
remained with them.

Soon after Col. Freke
left Lieut. Simpkins and Sgt. Bailey at top of avenue.
Lieut. Simpkins was hit by shrapnel on chest and badly
bruised and had to retire leaving Sgt. Bailey in command
who stayed in that position till 8 am at that time he
had only 6 men then remaining. Sgt. Bailey then thinking
that his flank was then protected by 6th
Brigade and hearing Major Ricardo was wounded, and might
require his help with A squadron returned to support
trenches and remained with A squadron.

At 2.30 our guns
opened a heavy shell fire on the German trenches and
continued to shell till 3.30 when the Royal Horse
Guards, the 10th. Hussars and the Essex
Yeomanry advanced from General Head Quarter Lines - 1000
yds - to retake the trenches lost by the 7th
Brigade.

The Leicester
Yeomanry numbering about 40 under Capt. Tolemache (Major
Ricardo tried to go, but only got a short distance owing
to his wounds,) and Lieut. Best joined in this charge
and retook trenches occupied by 1st and 2nd
Life Guards, and part of the trenches occupies by B
squadron. Those trenches which had been occupied by C
squadron were never re-occupied as they had been blown
quite flat.

One corp of the Royal
Horse Guards went along back of C company trenches
looking for wounded but found none. They saw many dead
in these trenches but took no identity discs.

The Leicesters took
five German prisoners and saw three iron cylinders
containing gas with rubber tubing attached which was
handed over to the Engineers. Lieut. Best was wounded in
this charge and we lost some men.

These trenches were
held till 8 pm when they were evacuated and the remnants
of the Leicester Yeomanry reinforced by Lieut. Henry and
thirty men took up their position on road immediately
behind the support trenches on A squadron where they
remained till relieved in the early morning of the 14th
when they returned to their huts near Brealin.

During the shell fire
from 4 to 8 several wounded men arrived at the
Regimental Aid Post and 9 am as shells were dropping on
farm occupied by Medical Officer and there were no
laying down cases. The Medical Officer decided to
evacuate that Aid Post and took his wounded to rear
across country to the Ypres-Menin Road and skirted Ypres
by Railway and getting on Poperinge Rd. took wounded
without loss to 7th Brigade Dressing Station
at Brealin Cross Roads.

At 12 noon the
Medical Officer and his orderly returned by Motor
Ambulance to White Chateau on Zonnibeke Road and formed
Regimental Aid Post there and remained there all day.

At 8 pm it was found
that 9 out of the 12 stretcher bearers belonging to the
regiment only remained, the remainder being either
killed or wounded, so volunteers were called for to
collect the wounded and 2 stretcher squads with
stretchers under the supervision of the Medical Officer
searched the ground between the new advanced trenches on
road and the advanced trenches originally held by
Regimental.

The stretcher bearers
did their work excellently and all wounded found were
taken either to the 6th or 7th
Cavalry Field Ambulance advanced dressing station. Many
wounded were found on the side of the Railway. All the
wounded were collected by 3 am.

Colonel Freke’s body
was found and removed to advanced Dressing Station of 7th
Brigade Field Ambulance and later removed by Ambulance
to Brealin Cross Road and was buried in Cemetary there,
the Following day by the Brigade Chaplain; the survivors
of the Leicestershire Yeomanry being present.

The following is an account by Harry Skelson
M.B.E, Joint Hon. Secretary and Treasurer of The Leicestershire
Yeomanry Association:

"As Sleath was killed at the Battle of
Frezenburg on May 13th, 1915, he would have
been in the first draft to go to France. He would have
been originally in ‘D’ (Lutterworth) Squadron but was
transferred to ‘A’ Squadron for mobilisation. The
Regiment was mobilised on August 4th, 1914
and then concentrated at Grantham on August 10th.

The regiment then moved, mounted, by
road and arrived at Diss, Norfolk at the beginning of
September. The Regiment left England on November 2nd,
landing at Le Havre the following day under the command
of Lt. Col. the Hon. P.C. Evans-Freke, who was also
killed on May 13th 1915. They then moved up
gradually to Ypres where the war was static in weather
conditions of extreme severity - rain, mud and later
frost, snow and very intense cold.

The Regiment was employed as reserves
and reliefs for the infantry in the trenches. On May 9th
they were called upon and leaving their horses in rear
areas, they were bussed to Ypres and then marched to
Bridon.

On May 12th they went into
the line between the roads leading from Ypres to
Zonnebeke and Menin and in front of Potijze. Early in
the morning of 12th May, after very heavy
shelling, the enemy took possession of the trenches on
the left of the Regiment and then proceeded to bomb
their way along ‘B’ and ‘C’ Squadron lines. These two
squadrons suffered very heavily, but ‘A’ Squadron [of
which Samuel Sleath was a member] in rear support held
the enemy by rifle fire, thus preventing a gap in the
line and an opening to Ypres. ‘A’ Squadron suffered
badly too, but a supporting Brigade came up and
counter-attacked and the survivors of ‘A’ Squadron
joined in and drove the enemy back at the point of the
bayonet.

On the night of May 12th
14 officers and 267 other ranks went into action. By the
morning of the 13th the Regiment had lost 7
officers killed and 87 other ranks killed or missing. 5
officers were wounded and 88 other ranks.

This action, in holding the line and
saving a gap in the defences, gained for the Regiment
the Battle Honour of Frezenburg.

It was in this action that Samuel
Sleath was killed, and one can hardly imagine worse
conditions in which to fight and die. It was even
difficult to work the bolts of the rifles owing to the
cold and the mud."

2131 Tpr. S Sleath

It is impossible to deduce exactly at which point in
the battle Sleath was killed, but it seems likely that
he was killed by rifle fire as the shelling claimed
fewer victims on the second day of the battle than the
first.

The medal
awarded to all who died in The Great War. This is Samuel
Sleath’s.

The Ypres
Salient today. This is a view of Tallana Farm Cemetery,
just north of Ypres